Sports car and convertible · 2005–2021 cars

Porsche Cayman reliability

The Porsche Cayman fails 9.8% of first MOT tests, 60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 59,525 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 99/100#14 of 62 sports car and convertibles

Checking a Porsche Cayman before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 9.8%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 60% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 59,525; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 4,600; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Porsche Cayman ages

Each point is the share of Porsche Caymans of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Porsche CaymanAll cars

Porsche Cayman first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Porsche Cayman	All cars
3	3.7%	12.3%
4	5.2%	14.1%
5	5.9%	16.4%
6	5%	19.1%
7	5.1%	22.1%
8	5.5%	25.5%
9	7%	28.8%
10	6.9%	31.8%
11	7%	34.6%
12	10%	37.3%
13	11.9%	39.5%
14	15.3%	41.1%
15	17.4%	42.3%
16	19.6%	42.9%
17	20.4%	43.4%
18	17.2%	43.5%

By year

The best and worst Porsche Cayman years

2013 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Porsche Cayman MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	427	3%	67% fewer fails	13,936
2020 Cayman	1,447	3.9%	60% fewer fails	15,120
2019 Cayman	3,848	5.3%	52% fewer fails	19,877
2018 Cayman	5,787	5.2%	59% fewer fails	24,481
2017 Cayman	4,355	5.3%	64% fewer fails	27,765
2016 Cayman	4,530	4.8%	68% fewer fails	24,524
2015 Cayman	4,808	4.9%	73% fewer fails	31,631
2014 Cayman	5,104	7%	68% fewer fails	41,608
2013 Cayman	4,787	6.4%	74% fewer fails	45,469
2012 Cayman	1,471	7.1%	73% fewer fails	46,017
2011 Cayman	2,211	10%	65% fewer fails	48,268
2010 Cayman	2,083	12%	64% fewer fails	60,257
2009 Cayman	2,698	10.3%	71% fewer fails	62,926
2008 Cayman	3,735	17.1%	54% fewer fails	69,530
2007 Cayman	5,574	18.9%	52% fewer fails	74,395
2006 Cayman	5,992	20.9%	47% fewer fails	76,178
2005	668	20.5%	50% fewer fails	80,650

Common problems

What fails most on a Porsche Cayman

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics3.2%65% below avg
Tyres2.4%52% below avg
Brakes1.9%65% below avg
Suspension1.7%77% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.4%45% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.3%71% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.5%60% above avg
Steering0.4%70% below avg
Body, chassis and structure0.4%85% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 0.98% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.73% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
3
Lambda reading outside specified limits 0.63% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
4
Headlamp aim set too high 0.57% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
5
Coil spring fractured or broken 0.56% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 0.55% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
7
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.54% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
8
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.42% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Porsche Cayman's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit5.6%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.79%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy4.68%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.27%
Slight play in steering rack joints1.38%
Engine oil leak, not excessive1.32%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Porsche Cayman

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
3
Lambda reading outside specified limits
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
4
Headlamp aim set too high
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Porsche Cayman covers about 4,600 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol100%
Diesel0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, Silver, Blue, White

Average engine size: 2.9 litres.

Compare

How the Porsche Cayman compares with its rivals

Porsche Cayman against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Porsche Cayman	9.8%	60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar F-Type	7.8%	52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz SL	15.3%	51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Mustang	14.7%	15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW Z3	31.3%	15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Eos	33.7%	14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot RCZ	33%	10% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Porsche models.

Questions

Porsche Cayman questions, answered

Is the Porsche Cayman reliable?

On MOT results, the Porsche Cayman is better than average: it fails 9.8% of first MOT tests, 60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 14 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.

What fails most on a Porsche Cayman MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Porsche Cayman are position lamp not working (0.98% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (0.73% of tests), lambda reading outside specified limits (0.63% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 3.2% of its tests.

Which Porsche Cayman year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (74% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Porsche Cayman do a year?

A typical Porsche Cayman covers about 4,600 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Porsche Cayman before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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